Smart Home Blog

The next generation of The Energy Detective or TED – device to measure energy consumption is coming soon. The new 5000 series looks pretty cool. It’s split on three parts – measurement module, network gateway and display. The core of the system is gateway. It receives data about energy consumption from the measurement module via power line and keeps it internally. The gateway can transmit then data to the TED 5000 Display via ZigBee or to the PC via LAN where real-time and historical data can be viewed using TED Footprints software.

Additionally the users will able to use TED Footprints API. This gives a possibility to integrate TED 5000 into their home automation system and use the same interface to view energy consumption data.

The basic package of new TED 5000 is tagged at $199.95 and doesn’t include TED 5000 Display (which is fine for integration). If you need the display you should pay $40 more. There are also special packages for the homeowners who have solar or wind generation systems with additional sensors to monitor them.

I like TED 5000 conception. It provides much more flexibility then previous 1000 series. The price is also reasonable. The only one big disadvantage it had – it cannot be used in Europe. Will wait for adopted version of the TED 5000 or similar set situated here.

Finally energy monitor TED got a PC interface and software to collect measurement information and display it in human understandable format on your PC. TED Footprint is a “data-logging software designed to provide very detailed information about your use of electricity”. It offers following:

• Dashboard view of real-time usage, displaying all data stored within TED on your PC
• View data in kW, Dollar, or in CO2 format at the push of a button
• Logs Time of Use in kWh, Dollars and Voltage
• Graphs/charts all logged data in kWh, Dollars, or Voltage
• Graphs/charts are printable
• Calendar for viewing is flexible: view day, week, month, year.
• Data is logged in background
• Data is logged in Excel format, as well as .htm format for further user analysis
• Load-Profile major appliances, such as Water Heater, HVAC system, or other heavy loads. Records time-of-use, run-time and cost-to-run specified loads.

To use TED Footprint software you have to purchase an upgrade your TED monitor, including a new firmware and TED Footprint. Personally, I’d like to use TED to monitor the energy consumption in my home. But the TED Footprint is based on Windows and doesn’t offer API. So, it won’t be possible to integrate it with my LinuxMCE installation. It is a pity but I hope that next version of TED Footprint will support Linux as well.